PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Derek Wolf's sensational effort led the Mount Royal Cougars to an 87-80 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves to complete a weekend sweep at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre.
Wolf finished with 39 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including eight of 12 from three-point range for the Cougars (8-10), who kept their Explorer Division playoff hopes alive with the victory.
Brett Layton posted another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Matthew Gray added 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals coming off the bench for the Cougars, who shot 52.6 per cent as a team.
For UNBC (3-15), Rhys Elliott nearly matched Wolf shot for shot, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Marcus MacKay added 20 points and four rebounds.
Timberwolves rookie Anthony Hokanson also made a significant contribution off the bench, ending with 13 points and six rebounds on a day where UNBC honoured graduating players Colin Plumb and Billy Cheng, who received a standing ovation from the Timberwolves faithful.
Mount Royal got off to a red-hot start, opening up an 11-0 lead in the opening 2:12 of the first quarter. The Timberwolves fought back hard, rattling off a 15-2 run to climb all the way back and take a 23-21 lead through the game's opening 10 minutes.
The teams traded shots throughout the second quarter, though a pair of three-pointers from Wolf gave Mount Royal a 35-31 lead midway through the frame. Elliott did his best to keep the Timberwolves within reach, though Wolf and Hokanson traded three-pointers to end the first half with the Cougars up 45-40.
The third quarter saw yet another see-saw battle, with Wolf's efficiency giving the Timberwolves fits, though strong performances from Elliott and MacKay kept UNBC around, getting within one possession before Mount Royal took a 68-62 edge into the fourth quarter, where the Timberwolves got within a point midway through the frame before Wolf answered with back-to-back three-pointers to push the Cougars over the top.
The Cougars, who finish their regular season at home against the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades next week, now need help from the Timberwolves, as UNBC heads to Edmonton to battle the MacEwan Griffins, who hold a one-game edge for the Explorer Division's final playoff spot.